Weft thread feed device for looms for weaving



D 1955 E. PFARRWALLER WEFT THREAD FEED DEVICE FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1954 INVENTOR.

EEW/N B'A REM/ALLER- ATTO/F/VEK Dec. 13, 1955 E. PFARRWALLER 2,726,585

WEFT THREAD FEED DEVICE FOR LQOMS FOR WEAVING Filed July 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Fig. 11 Hg. 12 H 13 Fi 14 F 15 IN VEN TOR.

ERW/N PFARRWALL ER BY wimp AT TORNEK United States Patent WEFT THREAD FEED DEVICE FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Sulzer Freres, Societe Anonyme, Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application July 16, 1954, Serial No. 443,949

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 19, 1953 16 Claims. (Cl. 139-126) The invention relates to a loom for weaving having elements provided with thread clamps for gripping a weft thread to be inserted into the shed.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 376,780, filed August 27, 1953.

An object of the invention is to provide in a loom for weaving in which the weft threads are individually gripped by clamps forming part of elements which in sert the weft threads into the shed, a thread changing device having at least two thread feeders and placing the weft threads in a predetermined sequence into a position in which the thread held by a feeder is transferred to a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be picked, the thread being pulled from a package which is arranged separately from the weft thread inserting element.

The invention resides more particularly in the provision of an actuating mechanism for the thread changing device which includes a rough adjustment for transferring the thread changing device from one position into another position, and a fine adjustment which places the feeders, after they have been brought into thread transfer position, into the exact position relatively to the weft inserting element.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however and addi tional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the loom for weaving seen from the fabric side;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a thread changing mechanism having two thread feeders and a rough and fine adjustment according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a large scale diagrammatic perspective View of a clutch forming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the movements of the lay, of the thread changing device, and of the fine adjustment during one picking period;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified thread changing mechanism having four thread feeders for feeding four difierent weft threads;

Fig. 6 shows a detail of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 and the direction of the forces acting therein;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the weft thread insertion schedules at different arrangements of the pins actuating the control chain;

Fig. 8 shows a large scale end view of a rough adjustment mechanism forming part of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a large scale end view of a modified rough adjustment mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a part sectional end view of a combined 2,726,685 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 rough and fine adjustment mechanism for a thread changing mechanism having two thread feeders;

Figs. 11, 13 and 15 are views of difierent links of the control chain forming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 12 and 14 are views of the links shown in Figs. 11 and 13, respectively, taken at a right angle to the views shown in Figs. 11 and 13.

The same numerals designate the same parts in all figures.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the motor 16 driving the loom is arranged on the right side of a frame 1. This motor operates all power-driven elements of the loom, such as the warp beam 2 for the warp 3, which is controlled by heddles 13 to form a shed, and the cloth beam 5 for the fabric 4. The main loom shaft 6 which is driven by the motor 16 through a clutch 15 operates a picking mechanism 7 and a shuttle receiving mechanism 8. A weft thread 10 is presented to a shuttle 14 in the picking device 7, the weft thread being pulled from one of tour packages 11 which are arranged outside of the shuttle 14, the weft thread being picked by the shuttle 14 through the shed to the receiving mechanism 8. The idle shuttles are returned below the shed from the receiving mechanism 8 to the picking mechanism 7 by means of a shuttle return device 9. A shaft 12 for engaging and disengaging the clutch 15 is actuated by manipulating one of two levers 12. A brake 17 is provided for quickly stopping the main shaft 6 and the loom. If the clutch 15 is disengaged, the shaft 6 can be rotated by means of a hand wheel 18. On the left side of the loom, a device 19 is provided for rough and fine adjustment of an element for changing the weft threads to be presented to a shuttle.

The driving motor 16 in Fig. 2 is electrically connected for forward drive by means of a switch lever 20 and drives the main shaft 6 in the direction of arrow 24 for normal weaving operation by means of a belt and a belt wheel 21 which is engaged by a cone-shaped clutch disc 22. The shaft 6 carries two cams 23 for actuating the lay, not shown. The cone disc 22 is axially moved on the shaft 6 by means of a lever 12. The disc is disengaged from the wheel 21 upon movement of the lever 12 in the direction of the arrow 12".

A shaft 25 is rigidly connected with the belt wheel 21 and rotates an auxiliary shaft 27 at relatively slow speed by means of a belt drive 26, both when the shaft 6 is or is not rotated.

A clutch 28 is provided at the left end of the auxiliary shaft 27, the clutch 28 having a sleeve 28a provided with an axial tooth 28b. A clutch sleeve 280 having a recess 28d is mounted on a shaft 29. The sleeve 28a can be axially moved on the shaft 27 by means of a lever 31, so that the tooth 28b is inserted into the recess 28d. Since there is only one tooth 28b on the sleeve 28a and since the sleeve 28c has only one recess or notch 28d, the relative angular position of the shafts 29 and 27 is always the same when the clutch 28 is engaged.

The lever 31 actuates also a clutch 32 by axially moving a sleeve 32a having an axial tooth 32b on the shaft 6 and inserting the tooth 3212 into a corresponding gap 32d in a sleeve 32c. If the lever 31 is in position I, the clutch 32 is engaged and the clutch 28 is disengaged; if the lever 31 is in position II, the clutch 28 is engaged and the clutch 32 is disengaged. A shaft 33 which is rigidly connected with the sleeve 32c is always in the same angular position relatively to the shaft 6 when the clutch 32 is engaged because of the provision of only one tooth 32b.

The rough adjustment for the thread changing elea tooth wheel 43 on a shaft '44, the latter carrying a sprocket wheel'45 for a control chain 46.

The chain ,46 'is composed of differently shaped links 46a to 460! which are interconnected by means of links 46 The gear ratio ofthe wheels 42, 43 is such that at each revolution of the main shaft 6 and of the shaft 33 the control chain 46 is advanced-by one link, i. e. by the distance between the centers of two neighboring links 46 A roller 47 on anarm 48 extending from a shaft '49 is inengagement with the link 46a in the position of the mechanism shown in Fig; 2, engagement pressure being 'produced'by a spring 52 having one end connected with astationary part of the'loom and the other end connected The latter is connected with'an arm 51 on the shaft 49. The roller lever 48 is i I V 72 swinging on a stationary pivot'and by the roller 72, inacshown in Fig. 2 in a position prior to theend of the move- 'mentof the lever from its highest to its lowest position.

The movement of the arm or lever 48 is transmitted to the thread changing element 34 through a yielding clutch 5.3 'and'a' shaft 54.

A sleeve 53a of the clutch 53 is mounted on the shaft 49 and is provided with two claws 53b which are 180' apart and provided with inclined flanks 53c (Fig.3).

' The claws 53b engage corresponding V-shaped notches or gaps 53d in a clutch sleeve 532 which is axially movable on the shaft 54 and which is pressed against the sleeve 53a by means of aspring 55 resting against a shoulder 56 on the shaft54. In this way the shaft- 49 is yieldingly connected with the shaft '54. r

The thread changing element 34iskeyed to the shaft 54 and is provided with two guide grooves 57a and 575 i in which the thread feeders ssa and58b, respectively, are

longitudinally movable. In the illustrated position of the element 34, the feeder 58a is in the direction of the pick. A clamp opener 59 has opened a thread clamp 61a of the feeder 58a, the shuttle 14 pulling the thread 10a through the shed which thread has been fed to the shuttle by the feeder 58a. A thread 10b is held ready for transfer to a shuttle by a clamp 61b of a feeder 58b, the transfer being effected after the element 34 has been moved 7 in the direction of the arrow 62.

.i A lever -63-:l'ongitudinally moves the feeder 58:: or 58b, whichever is in the pickingline', to the right 'to the edge of the fabric for gripping the thread lfla or 10b, after completion of the pick, in the neighborhood of a conventional thread cutter, not shown, and for ret urningv the end of the thread to the transfer position. The actuation of the thread feeders by a lever 63 is shown in my copending application Serial. No. 376,780.

A-locking shield 64 which is mounted on the loom frame has a nose 65b inserted in a slot 66b o'f'the thread feeder 58b, holding the latter in the idle position. The feeder 58:: which is in *the picking line is slidable in a recess 67 of the shield 64. When the feeder 58a is in the position above the picking line, it'is held'against longi- 6. Engagement of the roller with the cam 77 is ensured by'a'spring 76.

The device operates as follows:

If the lever 31 is in the position I, the shaft 6 drives position, forexample, bya conventional shuttle lifter, to

ensure faultless transfer. of theweft thread from the feeder 58:: or 58b to the shuttle 14. For this purpose a fine adjustment mechanism-68 to 77 is provided in addition to the rough adjustment mechanism 33 to 56, The control links 46a and 46d merely move the thread changing element from one position to another. Wear and elasticity of the linkage between the control, chain 46 and the element 34 may cause a considerable deviation of. the position of thethreadfeeders from the correct thread 7 transfer positiom. Since'the adjusting plate 68 is placed as closely as possibie to the element 34 and the notches 69a and 6% are "made with'gre'atr accuracy and the position of the plate .68 is accurately defined by the lever 'curacies of the rough adjustment'are compensated.

After or nearly after the position-of the element 34 has been changed,-the cam 77 effects a clockwise rotation of the lever 75 so that'the lever 72 is moved from the free position III into the illustrated position IV until the roller 71 is fully inserted in the notch 69a or69b, not only adjusting the position of the plate 68' but also locking it against movement. r I

7 When correcting weaving errors caused by a broken weft thread or by an unscheduled weft insertion, so many recently inserted weft threads must'be pulled out of the V fabric until the faulty We'ft thread is reached. The fabric,

the shed control mechanism and, if necessary,'the warp beam are reversed pick by pickfor removing the individualweft threads. ln order to obtain the scheduled sequence of the weft threads when weaving is resumed,the shaft 33 must be reversed by as many revolutions as weft threadsrnust be removed. For this 'purpose,.the lever 31 is moved to position II. The main shaft 6 has been stopped by actuation-of the lever 12 and disengagement of the clutch '22. Upon connection of the auxiliary shaft 27 with the shaft '29 by means of the clutch 28, the shaft 29 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 78. The pinion 35 revolves clockwise and the tooth wheel 36 revolves in a direction oppositeto that of the arrow shown thereon.

Therefore, rotation of the pin disc 38, the Geneva movethe arrow shown on these parts. Since the main shaft 6 stands still, the thread changing element 34 is arrested by the plate 68 which is locked by the lever 72 in all positions in which a movement is not desired, i. e. in which the thread feeders 58 a and 58b are not at least close to the thread changing position or in which movement of the element 34 is undesirable for other reasons. The ele- V tudinal movement by the nose a which is inserted in a ment 34 is locked at least from the moment of the thread transfer from the feeder 58a or 58b to a shuttle 14 to the moment in which a weft thread 10:: or ltlb'is seized again by the feeder 58a or 58b; it is never locked longer than to the moment when a thread feeder has returned to the thread changing position.

If the lever 48'is moved upon movement of the control chain 46, 'the'yielding clutch 53 is actuated (Fig. 3).

If rotation of the shaft 54 is-prevente'd and shaft 49 is rotated, the sleeve 53a is rotated'relatively' to the sleeve 53a, the latter being pushed to the light in Figs 2 and 3. The V-notch 53d is .so shaped that the flank 53c of the claw 53b engages a side wall of the notch 53d during rotation of the sleeve 53a through an angle 06 which is greater than the angle 13 between the extreme positions I and' II of the lever 48 which controls the thread changing element 34 (Fig. 2).

7 After removal of the faulty weft thread and after reverse operation of the control chain 46, normal operation of the loom can be resumed, the lever 31 having been returned to position I and the main shaft 6 having been connected with the loom drive by manipulation of the lever 12. If the yielding clutch 53 was actuated by the reverse movement of the control chain 46, the position in which the element 34 was held by the lever 72 did not correspond to the position of the lever 48 which is determined by the control chain 46. The spring 55 presses the sleeve 532 against the sleeve 53a of the yielding clutch 53 at the moment in which the roller of lever 75 runs into the recess 79 of the cam 77 and in which the roller 71 is pulled out of the recess 69a. Thereby the flank 53c of the claw 53b slides along the wall of the V-notch 53d and the shaft 54 and consequently the element 34 is moved to a position corresponding to that of the lever 48. The motor 16 is reversed by moving the switch lever 20 to position R whereupon the auxiliary shaft 27 is rotated against the arrow 78 and the rough adjustment, i. e. the control chain 46, is actuated to move forward upon engagement of the clutch 28. If the main shaft 6 is connected with the motor 16 by means of clutch 21, 22, the switch lever 20 should not be placed in the reversing position R.

The diagram Fig. 4 indicates the movements during the available angles of rotation while the main shaft 6 rotates through 360. The position of the main shaft 6 corresponds to the beginning of the movement of the lay, which is represented by the line X, towards the apex of the shed. Beating up of the weft thread occurs at the moment designated by the letter B. The lay is returned to its initial position during the period between the moments designated by the letters B and C. The lay remains in its initial position until the main shaft has completed one revolution, i. e. has rotated through 360, when the lay is in position for making the next following beat.

The movements of the thread changing element 34 (Fig. 2) are indicated by the line XI. The element 34 is in its lowest position at 0. The guide groove 57a, the thread feeder 58a and the thread 10a are in the picking line. The element 34 remains in this position until the moment marked by the letter D. Thereupon the thread changing movement begins and continues in upward direction until the moment designated by the letter B whereby the groove 57b, the thread feeder 58b, and the thread lbb are moved into the picking line. After the transfer of the thread 1% to the gripper shuttle 14, the shuttle is picked at the moment designated by the line I, for inserting the thread 10b into the shed. The thread changing element 34 remains in the upper portion from the moment E until the shaft 6 has completed its revolution. The opposite thread changing movement occurs along the dotted line DE'; the element 34 remains in the lower position D-E' or in the upper position D-E, if the thread is not changed.

The lever 72 moves according to the line Xll. The roller 71 engages one of the recesses 69a or 69b of the plate 68 from the main shaft position 0 to the moment F whereby the element 34 is locked (Fig. 2). From the moment F the roller 71 moves to the left, releasing the element 34. This movement ends at the moment G. As long as the roller on the lever 75 is in the recess 79 (Pig. 2), the roller '71 is in the releasing position III which is indicated by the line portion GG. Between the moments G and H the roller 71 moves to the right into one of the recesses 69a or 6% of the plate 68 defining die fine adjustment position and locking the element 34. The roller 71 remains in this position (IV) during the completion of the revolution of the shaft 6 and thereafter till the moment F.

For weaving fabrics having more than two diflerent weft threads the thread changing element 81 (Fig. is provided with a plurality of guide grooves 82a to 82d and with a plurality of thread feeders 83a to 83d corresponding in number to the number of different weft.

threads. The device illustrated in Fig. 5 is for four different weft threads. A plate 84 is provided with four recesses 85a to 85d for receiving a roller 86 on a lever 87 which swings on a stationary axis 88 and is actuated by a rod 89 and a cam on shaft 6, which cam corresponds to the cam 77 in Fig. 2. The lever 87 and the roller 86 arrest the plate 84 when in the position IV and release the disc 84 for a thread changing movement when in the position HI.

The length of the teeth 91a to 91c is such that the teeth just clear the roller 86 in the releasing position Iii. Rotation of the element 81 and of the disc 84 is elfected by a surface portion 92 of a chain link 46 (Fig. 6), and begins already at a moment at which the roller 86 has passed only through a minor portion of the total movemeat from position III to position IV. The configuration of the flank 93 of the tooth 91a, which is engaged by the roller 86, is made to correspond to the resultant of the two movements (that of the plate 84 and that of the roller 36). The movements are illustrated in Fig. 4, line Xli between points F and G, and lines XIH and XlV between the points K and L corresponding tothe flanks 93, and line XII between the points G and H, and lines X111 to XV between the points M and N corresponding to the flanks 4. The plate 84 is thereby accurately guided during the entire thread changing movement, preventing undesirable oscillation of the element 81 when operating the loom at high speed, i. e. with a great number of picks per minute. The line XIII of Fig. 4 indicates the movement of the element 81 upon movement of the plate 84 between the recess 85a and the other recesses. The lines XIV and XV, respectively, indicate the movement of the element 551 between the recesses 85b, 85c, and 85d, and each of the other recesses. The vertical distances between the points K and L and the points M and N are the same in all lines, all flanks 93 and all flanks 94 of the teeth Mo to 910 having the same configuration.

Fig. 6 shows the forces acting on the control links 46 when the roller 47 is on the surface 92. The line of force 95 corresponds to position V of the roller 47 in the middle of the cam portion 92, the control chain moving in the direction of the arrow 96. The line of force 97 shows the condition when the roller 47 is in the position Vi at the end of the surface 92. The latter is so formed that the pressure produced by the roller 47 always acts between the link pins 3a and 98b which connect the link 46 with the connecting links 46 and 46g, respectively. Therefore, the link 46 is always pressed against the sprocket wheel 45 by the roller 47 without tilting the member 56.

Instead of four driving pins 39, as shown in Fig. 2, only two or one pin may be inserted in the disc 38. In this way, ifferent control sequences of the control chain 46 in relation to a certain number of revolutions of the main shaft 6 may be produced. If there are less than four pins, a conventional locking disc or cam 99 for looking the Geneva movement 41 must be provided, the configuration of the disc 99 corresponding to the number of pins 39 inserted into the disc 38. Fig. 2 shows a locking disc 9% which is suitable, if the pins 3% and 390 are omitted. The disc 9 engages the arcuate recesses 1431 of the Geneva movement 41 upon termination of the movements effected by the pins 39 and 39a.

Fig. 7 illustrates a few control sequences. Column A shows the pin disc 38 and the pins 39 inserted therein. The resulting control sequences are shown in column C. X indicates that at one revolution of the main shaft 6, the control chain 46 is advanced by one link; 0 indicates that the control chain 46 is not advanced during one revolution of the main shaft 6. Whereas in the line a weft thread change occurs at every revolution of the shaft 6, in the lines b to e weft thread changes are omitted at certain revolutions of the shaft 6.

In order to increase the number of difierent control se- 7 pins.

7 positions.

quences, the rough adjustment'mechanism mayinclude the latter also carrying a pin-supporting wheel 108. A pin 109 inserted into the pin wheel 108 engages slots 111 of a Geneva movement 112 on a shaft 113 on which also a sprocket wheel 114 for a control chain 115 is mounted. Shaft'107 carries a locking disc or cam 116 for the Geneva movement 112 in case less than four pins 109 are inserted into the pin wheel 108. I

If four pins 103 or 109 are inserted into one of the pin Wheels 102 or 108, and one pin is inserted into the other pin Wheel, the 'control'sequences shown in line e of Fig. 7 are produced. If two pins are provided in the other pin Wheel, the sequences shown in lines d and c are produced. If three or four pins are inserted into the other pin wheel,

the sequences shown in lines b and a are eifected. If less than four pins are inserted into the discs or wheels 102 and 108, the control-sequences f-to i are efiected, Column A shows the disc 102 and column B the disc 108 with the pins inserted to produce the desired control sequences. Since the control path of the Geneva movement 112 correspondsto one-fourthof a revolution of the shaft. 113 and of the sprocket wheel 114 advancing the control chain. 115 a distance equal to the distance between the centers of two consecutive connecting links, the control chain 115 is advanced only after sixteen'revolutions of the shaft 33 and of the mainshaft 6, as shown by line f e V in Fig; 7, if only one pin is inserted in each of the wheels 102 and 108. i

sprocket wheel 1 25 carrying a control chain 126 is mounted on the shaft of the Geneva movement 123.

The gear ratio of the wheels 117, 118 effects rotation of the shaft119 through an angle of 120 upon one-fourth of a revolution of the shaft 107, whereby the Geneva movement 123 is advanced by 60. The locking discs or cams 104 and 127 mounted on the shafts 37 and 119 are designed according to the number of the inserted driving The lines k, l, m, and nin Fig. 7 illustrate the control sequences corresponding to the number of inserted driving pins. Column A shows the pin Wheel 102, column B shows the pin wheel12 i, and column C illustrates the control sequences effected at the illustrated pin wheel If only one pin is inserted into the discs 102 and 121, each twelfth revolution of the shaft 6 advances the control chain 126 by the length of one link, as shown in row 1:.

V The rough adjustment and the fine adjustment mechanisms may be combined as shown in Fig. 10. The thread changing element 128 is provided with two grooves 129a and 12% for two thread feeders 131a and 13119. A pinion 132 mounted on the main shaft 6 drives a tooth Wheel 133 which is mounted on the shaft 135 which also carries a cam 134. The shafts 6 and 135 and a pin 137 forming the fulcrum for a lever 138 are supported by a frame 136. The lever 138 carries a roller 139 which is pressed against a cam 134 by a spring 141.

A rod 142 is pivoted by a pin 143 to the lever 138. The rod 142 is'pro'vided with a collar 144'which is guided in ti-Bore 1 2s s;atrassersaasam. The'latte'r is previiieh with tw pins {147; which are revelvabl sup portedin a fork 1*48 which-is kej edTtOZa shaft 149, the

latter carrying also the thread changing {element 128.

Fixing rings 15 1*are provided o'nfthe rod 142 on either side of the'coll'ar 1 44, the rihgs 151 forming abutments for o'ne en'd of 'thesprin'gs 152 and 153. 'The otherends of the springs rest against collars 154 and 155. Two abutments 1 56 and 157 are adjustably mounted on the frame 136 a'nd'can be fixed thereto by, screws 158.

j The stroke of the cam 134 and the leverage of the lever 13S 'are so thatthe rod 142 travels farther for moving'thefork 148 than the's'tr'oke of the-transverse member 146 wliich is limited by 'the abutments 156-and 157 for thefdik 1'48.

The roughradjustmem mechanism includes the cam 134, the lever 138, andth'erod 142, the' finefadjustment mechanism being formed-bythespring arrangement 144 rod 142 in the transverse member 146, the collars 1541.

and '1 55'resting'on the'c'olla'r 144 as well as on the transverse member 146 as "long as the fork 148 does not abutagainst the abutments 156' and 157. The bore of the collars 154" and 155 is smaller than the outside diameter of-the collar 1'44, the'out'sid'e'diameter of the collars 154 and 1 55 being greater than the bore of the transverse member 146. 'If,*upon changing-the position of the thread changing element 128, the fork :148 is pressed;

against the abutment 156 in position .I, the collarv 154 comes to rest on thetransverse member 146, and the col- Iar 144 'moves to' the right out of the 'bore 145 so that the collar- "res't's against the collar 144. Therefore,

the transverse member 146 and thefork 148 are firmly pns'hed by the'spring' 152 against the abutment 156. The adjustable abutment 153 6 affords exact'placement of the thread feede'r 13172 in the normal line of shuttle move} ment, the tension of spring 152 holding the thread changing element 128 in-the respective position.

154 resting against the collar 144 which moves to the left out of the bore 145. An arcuate. guide member 159 mounted on the frame 136 facilitates adjustment of the position of the abutments 156, 157 by holding same in the correct position relatively to the fork 148.

The links 46 of the control chains 115. and 126 may be made of one piece, Figs. ll and 12, the side plates 161 being formed by cutting a cavity into the piece and leaving a web portion 162. Bolts 163 inserted in the side plates 161 serve for connecting the links with the intermediate links 46 (Fig. 2). The web 162 of the links which effect a control motion is provided with an appropriate surface 92 which is distal of the sprocket wheel for the control chain.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a'modified construction of a 167, which serve for interconnecting the chain links with connecting links 46], are riveted or welded to the right side plate 164. The left plate 165 is provided Withborcs for the bolt166 and the pins 167, and is clamped to the bolt and pins by means of a nut 168. The connecting links 46] can be fastened to the pins 167 after removal of the nut 1'68 and of the left plate 165. The outer edge 1690f the side plates 164 and 165 is formed as a cam surface in those links which must effect a weft thread change, and as an arc in those links which must notactuate the thread changing element.

Whereas the control links 46 (Fig. 2) can produce only two different positions of the thread changing element, the control links, for example, of the type shown in Fig.

15 serve for titans-ten placing 'the four thread feeders V In position II, V j in which the-thread feeder 131'a'is in the normal line of shuttle movement, the spring 153 is effective, thecollar in the thread changing element 81 (Fig. in the normal line of movement of the shuttle. The control link 171 actuates a lever, such as the lever 48 in Fig. 2, the cam surface 172 placing the feeder 83a in the normal line of shuttle movement, and the cam surfaces 173 to 175 placing the feeders 83b to 83d, respectively, in the normal line of shuttle movement. There is, of course, a different control link for each of the cam surfaces 172 to 175, these surfaces all being shown in Fig. 15, to avoid showing four cams in four different figures. The intermediate cam portions 176, 177, and 178 guide the cam follower roller from one cam portion to another.

Fig. 15 illustrates cams in which the cam portions 172, 173, 174 run into a convex cam portion of the shape designated by numeral 175. The links may be modified to have cams in which the cam portions 172, 173, 175 run into cam portions of different shapes.

The control link 171 shown in Fig. 15 is made of one piece, like the link 161, 162 shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A weft thread feed device for looms for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, said device comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually transferring a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread transfer position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another position, and a fine adjustment mechanism affording exact alignment of the feeder from which a thread is to be transferred to a weft inserting element with smd last mentioned element.

2. A weft thread feed device for looms for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, said device comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually transferring a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, and for seizing the same weft thread after completion of its insertion into the shed by the thread inserting element, said feeders being adapted to reciprocate in said thread changing element, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread transfer position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another position, and a fine adjustment mechanism affording exact alignment of the feeder from which a thread is to be transferred to a weft inserting element with said last mentioned element, said fine adjustment mechanism including locking means for locking said thread changing element at least from the moment of thread transfer from the thread feeder to the weft inserting element to the moment the same thread is seized by the feeder, and not longer than until the thread feeder which has seized the thread is returned to thread changing supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a motor, a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a Weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another, a fine adjustment mechanism affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a weft inserting element with said last mentioned element, a main loom shaft, a clutch disconnectably connecting said motor with said main loom shaft, an auxiliary shaft permanently connected with said motor to be driven thereby, and clutch means for selectively connecting said rough adjustment mechanism either with said main shaft or with said auxiliary shaft.

4. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a motor, a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeder in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another, a fine adjustment mechanism afiording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a weft inserting element with said last mentioned element, a main loom shaft, and a clutch disconnectably connecting said motor with said main loom shaft, said fine adjustment mechanism being connected with said main loom shaft to be operated thereby.

5. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another, a fine adjustment mechanism affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a weft inserting element with said last mentioned element; said fine adjustment mechanism including a locking plate connected with said thread changing element to move therewith, said locking plate having a marginal portion provided with recesses, and a locking element adapted to be selectively received in one of said recesses for preventing movement of said plate and of said thread changing element as long as said locking element is received in one of said recesses.

6. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a motor, a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for ,moving said thread changing element from one position said rough adjustment mechanism.

7. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the'weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread insertingelement which is inta position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in 'a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to another, a fine adjustment mechanism affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a weft inserting element with said last mentioned element; said fine adjustment mechanism including a locking plate connected with said thread changing element to move therewith, said locking plate having'a marginal portion provided with recesses and teeth therebetween, and a locking element adapted to be selectively received in one of said recesses .for preventing movement of saidlplate and of said'thread'changing element as long as saidlocking element is received in one of said recesses, said teeth having flanks engaged by said locking element for exactly guiding said locking plate and said thread changing element during the start and the conclusion or" each of their movements.

8. A loom for'weaving inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread tothe clamp of a weft thread inserting element'which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element toplace said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element from one position to an- "other, a fine adjustment'mechanism affording accurate being pivoted to and interconnected by connecting links,

all imaginary lines which are perpendicular to the cam surface of a link extending between'the pivot points of said link.

10. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a weft thread changing element including at least two weft'feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread insetting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an'actuatingim'echa'nism for moving said of the type having weft thread 7 12 thread'changing-element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequenceinto thread presenting position; said actuating mechanism-including a rough adjustment-menthanism for moving said thread changing element from-one position to another, a line adjustment mechanism affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting aiweft thread to a 'weft inserting element with said lastmentioned element; said rough adjustment mechanism -in-' cluding intermittently acting drive means for intermittently driving said rough adjustment mechanism.

11. A loom for weaving according to claim 10, said intermittently acting drive means being in the form of at Geneva movement.

12. A loom for weaving of the type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided With a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted in'to the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements,

comprising a weft thread changing elementincludingat least two weft feeders for individually presenting a :Weft thread to the clamp of a weft thread inserting element which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, can actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to place said feeders in a predetermined sequence into thread presenting position; said actuating terposed between said device ,and said thread changing element.

13. A loom for weaving of the-type having weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to'bc'inserted into the shed and supplied from a package outside of said elements, comprising a weft thread changing element including at least twoweft feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of a weftthread inserting element which-is in a positionready to be inserted into the shed, an actu ating mechanism for moving said thread changing eleother, a fine adjustment mechanism affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a Weft inserting element withsaid-last mentioned element; said rough adjustment mechanism including cam means, a

lever having a free end carrying a cam follower roller 7 engaged by said cam means, a shaft connected to and adapted to be rotated by said lever, a'shaftconnected to and actuating said thread changing element, a'yielding clutch interposedbetweensaid shafts, said clutch having a part rigidly connected with one of said shafts and a part axially movablyconnected with the other of said shafts,

a spring for urging said clutch parts against each other,

one of said parts having a wedge shaped claw, the other of said, parts having arecess conforming with and' adapt- 7 ed to receive'said claw, said claw engaging-saidreccss during a relative angular movement of said two parts which is greater than the maximum angular movement of said lever.

14. A loom for weaving comprising weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be insertedinto the shed and individually supplied from packages outside of said elements, an oscillatory weft changing element including at least two weft thread feeders for individually presenting a weft thread-to'the clampof one of-said weft thread inserting elements which is in'a position ready to be inserted into the shed, i an "actuating mechanism'for oscillatingsaid thread changing elem'cntto individually move 13 position into thread presenting position and therefrom into an idle position, said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for oscillating said thread changing element substantially between the idle positions and the Weft inserting positions of said feeders, fine adjustment means afiording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a Weft inserting element with said last mentioned element, the oscillations produced by said rough adjustment mechanism extending through a greater angle than needed for moving a feeder between the idle position and the weft presenting position, and said fine adjustment means including adjustable abutments for limiting the extent of the oscillations of said thread changing element.

15. A loom for weaving comprising weft thread inserting elements individually provided with a clamp for gripping the weft thread to be inserted into the shed and individually supplied from packages outside of said elements, a movable Weft changing element including at least two Weft thread feeders for individually presenting a weft thread to the clamp of one of said weft thread inserting elements which is in a position ready to be inserted into the shed, an actuating mechanism for moving said thread changing element to individually move said feeders in a predetermined sequence from an idle position into thread presenting position and therefrom into an idle position, said actuating mechanism including a rough adjustment mechanism for moving said thread changing element substantially between the idle positions and the weft inserting positions of said feeders, fine adjustment means affording accurate alignment of the feeder presenting a weft thread to a Weft inserting element with said last mentioned element, the movements produced by said rough adjustment mechanism extending through a greater range than needed for moving a feeder between the idle position and the weft presenting position, and said fine adjustmentmeans including adjustable abutments for limiting the extent of the movements of said thread changing element.

16. A loom for weaving according to claim 15, said rough adjustment mechanism including a cam and cam follower mechanism, means interconnecting said last mentioned mechanism with said thread changing element, and yielding means interposed in said last mentioned means for affording excessive movements of said cam and cam follower mechanism when said thread changing element has been stopped by said abutments.

Rossman Aug. 22, 1933 Moessinger May 13, 1947 

